Rising Stars 2023: Ismael Cuevas

Ismael Cuevas, 34
Manager, government affairs–state and local legislative relations
Amtrak

Nominator’s quote: “As Mr. Cuevas enthusiastically and passionately continues his work, his primary goal is to support the rail industry in providing value, mobility and employment to diverse urban and rural communities, with a particular focus on navigating cultural factors that could bring the railroad new customers and advocates.” — Mariah Morales, Amtrak

Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology with a certificate in Chican@ and Latin@ studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; master’s degree in Mexican American and Latino/a studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

Job responsibilities: Work at the grassroots level to develop support for Amtrak’s services in the communities it serves, particularly with mayors, business groups and other community leaders. Also, articulate Amtrak’s legislative goals, statutory requirements and positions on pending legislation, including both authorization and appropriations matters to governors, state departments of transportation, mayors, congressional district staff, state legislators and their staffs.

Career path: Worked as an after-school program coordinator at a high school for a nonprofit community organization in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago. After that, spent seven years as chief of staff for Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza at Chicago City Council, and also served as director of external affairs for the City Council’s committee on workforce development. Joined Amtrak in May 2022.

How did you get into the rail industry? I was part of the National Association of City Transportation Officials’ 2021 Transportation Justice Fellows program. Our cohort — made up of people from across the country and from different professional sectors — received training from professional services firm Thrivance Group and its founder and CEO Destiny Thomas to develop individual and institutional capacities for creating a more just and representative mobility field. Through our discussions, I realized that I was passionate about public transportation, specifically in the micromobility sector.

Reflecting on the daily commute I made for four years to get to high school where I took one bus and two “L” Chicago Transit Authority trains, I felt that passenger rail needed to be strengthened in our cities. After traveling throughout Europe solely on passenger rail and public transportation, I was inspired to reactivate the United States’ former glory in those modes of transportation.

What is the best career advice you’ve received so far? As an undergraduate, I was hired as a summer intern at a local aldermanic office in Chicago. I always remember that my supervisor told me every internship and job I took should be used to accumulate skills that would create a toolbox to improve my community. Over a decade has passed since I heard her words, and they still resonate with me today. I am constantly working to improve the conditions for South Side Chicago residents, whether it is through transportation or education.

What advice would you give to a new railroader? As a new railroader, I quickly realized I had to overcome a huge learning curve. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask experienced railroaders to explain whatever matter is at hand. We are all subject-matter experts in something, and if railroading is new to you, have the patience to absorb it in due time. As of May 2023, I completed my first year at Amtrak and feel much more confident than I did a year ago. The support of my colleagues also has been instrumental in my growth as a new railroader.

What was your first job? My first job in high school was at McDonald’s.

Share a fun fact about yourself. Over the last few years, I have published several articles focusing on the history of Black and brown people in Chicago. I plan to continue researching and writing about Mexican communities and their political development in Chicago and its suburbs. I wear several hats in my community — one of them is advocating for green spaces in the inner city, walkable and bikeable neighborhoods and Latino empowerment.

If you could have dinner with anyone alive in the world, who would it be and why? Since I was a teenager, I have looked up to Subcomandante Marcos, spokesman for the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional in Chiapas, Mexico. His relentless advocacy for indigenous people's rights have been an inspiration. If his public discourses are astonishing, I can only imagine what it is like to hear him discuss his ideas during dinner.

Who has had the biggest influence on your career and why? My upbringing. As a child of immigrants, product of Chicago Public Schools, daily commuter on public transportation and lifelong Chicagoan, I have witnessed the strengths and weaknesses of our city. I have witnessed and lived firsthand how it takes a village to raise a child, and I know it will take a village to continue improving Chicago. The everyday people of our city deserve a world-class quality of life, and through my career, I hope I can contribute to the city's legacy.

Describe a major obstacle in your career and how you surmounted it. A major obstacle in the beginning of my career was imposter syndrome. Addressing my mental health at this stage had a significant impact in allowing me to overcome it. But as I said previously, it takes a village to raise a child. From mentors to supportive supervisors and colleagues to a loving mother and family, I was able to transcend that syndrome.